Midday Update 4-17-20
Join FOX 21's Brett Scott and Meteorologist William Seay for a local look at news and weather making headlines Friday, April 17, 2020.
Latest Headlines
Minnesota Latest COVID-19 Numbers, April 17
ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Department of Health released updated COVID-19 numbers Friday morning reporting 2,071 confirmed cases in the state. That is 159 new cases of COVID-19 since yesterday. Minnesota is also reporting 111 total deaths in the…
Walz Lifts Restrictions for Some Outdoor Recreational Activities
ST. PAUL, Minn. - On Friday, Gov. Tim Walz issued an Executive Order lifting restrictions on some outdoor recreational activities while his “Stay At Home” order is still in effect. In a Friday press release, Walz said this order means…
MNHS: Split Rock Lighthouse, Historic Sites Closed Through June 30
TWO HARBORS, Minn. - The Minnesota Historical Society announced the closure of all historic sites and museums to the public through June 30. The temporary closure will affect 26 historical locations including the…
Toastmaters Competition Continues Virtually
DULUTH, Minn. - While some gatherings are closed, others are still happening virtually, including speech competitions. Toastmasters is a speech club that has groups throughout the nation and the world. Recently, a speech competition for…
Local Business Raising Funds to Feed the Hungry
DULUTH, Minn. - One local company is creating merchandise to help out Northland residents. Locally Laid Egg Company wanted to help with fighting off food insecurity for Northlanders, so they partnered with Duluth…
Morning Update 4-17-20
Join FOX 21's Brett Scott and Meteorologist William Seay for a local look at news and weather making headlines Friday, April 17, 2020.
Update: US Steel to Idle Keewatin Taconite During Pandemic Slowdown
HIBBING, Minn. (AP) — U.S. Steel plans to indefinitely idle the Keewatin Taconite plant in northern Minnesota because of the drop in demand for iron and steel during the coronavirus pandemic, officials said Thursday. Officials said the closure will…
Douglas County Humane Society Sees Rise In Adoptions
SUPERIOR, Wisc. - The Douglas County Humane Society has seen a large increase in pet adoptions since the Covid-19 outbreak first began. Right now they are shut down to the public and only taking…
Northwest Community Service Agency Distributes Pre-Made Food Boxes
SUPERIOR, Wisc. - The Northwest Community Service Agency is doing their part helping supply members of the Northland community with food. Since mid-March the food shelf in Superior has been doing curbside pickup and…
Community Action Offers Virtual Tax Help
DULUTH, Minn.-- The federal and state tax deadline has been pushed to July 15. But many people still have a lot of questions when it comes to their taxes this year. Community Action is…
St. Luke's and Essentia Health Give Update on Coronavirus
DULUTH, Minn.-- Essentia Health and St. Luke's are talking about the impacts of the Coronavirus in Duluth and what people in the area can prepare for what's ahead. Both hospitals have been meeting with…
Duluth NAACP Gives Away Free Masks
DULUTH, Minn.-- The Duluth NAACP held another mask give-away for people wanting to protect themselves from the Coronavirus. Volunteers were out at Memorial Park in West Duluth to hand out masks to anybody who wanted…
Eating Better to Boost Immunity, Heart and Lung Health
DULUTH, Minn. -- We might be reaching for comfort foods right now, but health experts recommend eating healthy to boost your lung and heart health, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. New research published in…
Ruby's Pantry Coppertop Distributes Nearly 300 Bundles of Groceries
DULUTH, Minn. - Ruby's Pantry Coppertop distributed nearly 300 shares of food and paper products to community members. Ruby's expected well above the usual average of 200 bundles of groceries due to high unemployment…
Wisconsin Schools, Golf Courses Impacted by Wisconsin's 'Safer at Home' Extension
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Wis. - Families and business across Wisconsin are being impacted by Gov. Tony Evers extending Wisconsin's Safer at Home Order. Public and private schools will be closed for the rest…
First Witness Concerned After Seeing Slight Dip in Child Abuse Being Reported
DULUTH, Minn. - First Witness Child Advocacy Center is doing everything it can to make sure children are safe from abuse during the stay-at-home order. The National Children's Alliance says 87% of child abuse…
First Ever Virtual Beer Fest Happening This Weekend
DULUTH, Minn. - For all the beer lovers out there, here's your chance to have an experience of a lifetime right in the comfort of your home. The Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild is hosting the…
St. Ann's Residence Covid-19 Update
DULUTH, Minn. - Its been one week since a Coronavirus outbreak has hit St. Ann's Residence in Duluth. So far, a total of 20 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed at the senior living…
City Of Superior Gets Some Economic Relief Amid Pandemic
SUPERIOR, Wis.- The City of Superior is responding to the economic impact on its community. Superior Mayor Jim Paine recently announced proposals for the Superior Coronavirus Relief package. The package is a nearly…
4-H Makes Masks and Scrub Caps for Northlanders
ESKO, Minn. - 4-H is an organization that gives young people opportunities for service projects. Here in the Northland, 4-H members have made more than 400 masks and have also been making scrub caps. The…
Local Chorus Group Still Finding a Way to Sing
DULUTH, Minn. - Despite the challenges with the coronavirus, one local choir group is still finding a way to sing. The Lake Superior Youth Chorus has now created virtual orchestra spaces for each choir. The…
Small Business Lending Program on Hold After Reaching Limit
NEW YORK (AP) — The government’s lending program for small businesses is tapped out, and business owners who still need loans are waiting on Congress to approve more funding. The Small Business Administration said Thursday that it reached the $349…
Walz, Evers Partner With Midwest Governors to Reopen Region's Economy
ST. PAUL, Minn. - Today, several Midwest Governors announced they will work together to coordinate the reopening of the Midwest region economy. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers along with Governors Gretchen Whitmer (MI), Mike DeWine (OH), JB…
Essentia Health Extends Leave for 500 Furloughed Employees
DULUTH, Minn. - Plans to furlough 500 non-medical staff at Essentia Health began earlier this month and on Thursday the hospital announced those employees will have their leave extended another 30 days. Additionally, Essentia says more clinical staff will continue…
Evers Extends Wisconsin Stay-at-Home Order Until May 26
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers on Thursday extended Wisconsin’s stay-at-home order that was originally slated to expire next week for another month, keeping non-essential businesses closed until May 26 to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Schools will…
Midday Update 4-16-20
Join FOX 21's Brett Scott and Meteorologist William Seay for a local look at news and weather making headlines Thursday, April 16, 2020.
Ashland County Man Dies in Fatal Crash
TOWNSHIP OF SANBORN, Wis. - A 21-year-old male from Ashland County died Wednesday night when the car he was driving crashed in the woods. Authorities say the accident happened on Birch Hill Road in the Township of Sanborn around 7:00…
Minnesota Latest COVID-19 Numbers
ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Department of Health released updated COVID-19 numbers Thursday morning reporting 1,912 confirmed cases in the state. That is 103 new cases of COVID-19 since yesterday. Minnesota is also reporting 94 total deaths in the…
Minnesota Lawmakers to Vote on Plan for Beer and Wine to go
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Legislative leaders have agreed on a plan to let Minnesota restaurants offer beer and wine to go to help them stay afloat while they subsist on takeout orders during the shutdown for COVID-19. The bill is scheduled…
